Toe-weight



(No Model.)

J. H. LANE. V

TOE WEIGHT.

No. 548,781. Patent-ed 001;. 29, 1895.

, UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JAMES H. LANE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TOE-WEIG HT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,781, dated October29, 1895.

Application filed March 26, 1895. Serial No. 543,217- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. LANE, of Chicago, Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Toe-Weights for I Horses, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of devices whichare employed to accelerate the speed of trotting-horses by weighting thetoe of the hoof, so that as the foot is thrown forward the weight willtend to carry it beyond the position it would reach if not weighted.Devices of this character have been before employed; but many objectionsto them have existed, the chief one be ing the liability of the parts toaccidental separation, it having been usual to make the device in twopartsnamely, a base whichis secured to the hoof and a weight portionwhichis removed except when the animal is not racing.

The object of my invention is to construct toe-weights so that there isno likelihood of the removable part becoming lost when in use.

To this end my invention consists in the devices and combinations ofdevices hereinafter described, but particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View showing the deviceapplied to the hoof, the weight portion being in section. Figs. 2 and 3are perspective views, respectively, of the hoof portion or base and ofa cap which is used in connection with the base to protect a threadedstud thereon when the weights are removed. Fig. 4 is a plan view of theweight itself.

In the drawings, Fig. 2, A represents a metal plate, preferably slightlycurved to conform to the shape of the hoof, and which is adapted to besecured thereto by means of screwsB.

D is a threaded stud formed'integrally with the base A and extending atrightangles to the face thereof and being of sufficient length that whenengaged with the threads of the weight E it will hold the lattersecurely.

The weights E may be made of various sizes orin series, each being inthe form of a cap-nut with an internal threaded aperture, the threads ofwhich engage the threads of the stud. By making them in series varyingin weight or size they may be readily changed, as desired. Thebase-plate A has preferably formed therewith an integralrearwardly-extending shank F, which is intended to pass beneath thehoof, the latter being cutaway or channeled to receive it.

The whole structure is applied to the lower portion of the hoof, whichis not sensitive, and therefore its application does not inflict painupon the horse. For the purpose of protecting the threaded stud whentheweights are removed, I may employ the small threaded cap G. (Shown inFig. 3.)

The principal utility of my invention consists in the constructionwhereby the parts cannot become separated by shock. When the threadedweight is turned down tightly against the hoof, there will be suchfrictional engagement between the hoof and the metal as to prevent theweight unscrewing, and practice has demonstrated that the removable partwill not become detached in use and lost. It is well known to horsementhat the accidental casting of the toe-weight when a horse is racingseriously afiects its speed, and it is thereforev of the highestimportance with devices of this kind that they should be so made as toprevent these accidents. I make the external portion, preferably, of theweights of such angular form that they may be tightened by theapplication of a wrench thereto.

I claim- 1 1. In a device of the class described,the combination with abase plate adapted to be secured to the hoof of a horse, a threaded studextending from the face thereof, and a removable weight having aninternal screw threaded aperture adapted to be secured to the stud byscrewing it thereon, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base plateadapted to be secured to the hoof of a horse and provided with anintegral rearwardly projecting shank and a forwardly extending threadedstud, and a weight provided with an internal threaded aperture,substantially as described.

